Ubud bakso seller arrested for allegedly slinging drugs

An Ubud street vendor selling bakso was arrested in Denpasar for allegedly slinging more than just the Indonesian meatball soup.

A team from the South Denpasar Police Criminal Unit arrested Agil Nick Davis, 23, after he picked up a drug parcel on Jl. Tukad Batanghari. The arrest went down on Oct. 24, but police just announced it to the press yesterday.

“From the hands of the suspect, we secured a package of meth, weighing 20.08 grams and 15 ecstasy pills of various colors, wrapped in three plastic clips,” South Denpasar Police Chief Comr. I Nyoman Wirajaya said, as quoted by Bali Express.

Police say they were made aware of the case thanks to tips from the public. The blonde-haired suspect was seen suspiciously pacing up and down Jl. Tukad Batanghari. Police followed up on the report, and after four days of surveillance, netted the suspect.

“After being followed from a distance, the suspect stopped and took something from a pot outside the house of one of the residents. We arrested him at that time,” he added.

“The suspect claims he was only told to take the drugs by Kadek Nusa, who we are currently pursuing. He has been given orders three times, one order costs IDR150k (US$10). The suspect also said he does not know Kadek Nusa, because they only communicated via telephone,” Wirajaya said.

A spoon was also secured as evidence. The spoon was used by Davis to dig up the drugs that had been buried, according to Wirajaya.

“Usually, it would be taped to an electric or telephone pole left there. This was not be noticed by the public. Based on police records, the suspect is not a recidivist,” the police chief said.

It’s alleged that Davis acted as a drug courier three times in the past three weeks. He was attempting to supplement his income as a bakso seller to support his wife and two children, Wirajaya said. Davis has been charged with possession and selling of drugs, in violation of Article 112, paragraph 2 and Article 114, paragraph 2, of Indonesia’s Law no. 35 of 2009 about Narcotics.